The Role of the Information

Architect in the Web Development

Process

Eric L. Reiss

21 November 2000

Copenhagen Business School

Why this is a terrible title

• no one knows what an IA is or does

• no one much cares (yet)

Information Architecture – the secret to

fame and fortune in the digital world

Why am I telling you all this?

• because your institute combines

IT and English

• technology and language are inseparable

issues

• one way or another you will have to

know about it

• incredible career opportunities

What is an “information architect”?

“Responsible for the arrangement and

labeling of browser-based information so

visitors finds what they are looking for

quickly and with the least possible effort.”

And also:

• define navigational techniques

• coordinate usability studies

• maintain the architectural integrity

–placement of new information

–updating indexes, etc..

Why is this position so important?

• you cannot just let sites grow organically

• confused users will not come back

–all sites have products and customers

–(information is also a product)

Why is it usually ignored?

• it isn’t terribly visible

• the better we do our work,

the more invisible it is!

What are the specific tasks involved?

• set site goals (owner)

• define target audience

• define audience’s goal(s)

Plus core responsibilities:

• define content

• arrange content

• label content

What are the “official” skills?

Knowledge of:

• cataloging and indexing techniques

• database design

• basic programming languages

(HTML, XML)

The skills you really need:

• Curiosity

• Cultural literacy

• Good communication skills

(written and verbal)

The web process

• Allocate (find the funds, time, and people)

• Analyse (do your research)

• Architect (build your sitemap)

• Apply (bring in the visual designers)

• Accumulate (collect/create the content)

• Assemble (get the content into the CMS)

• Adjust (test, test, test)

Note: this process is both linear and circular

Thank you!